Quick answer
Full hours: час, два часа́, пять часо́в. Half past: полови́на тре́тьего = half past two. Minutes to: без пяти́ во́семь = five to eight.
Full hours
| Time | Russian | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 | час | just “hour” |
| 2:00–4:00 | два часа́, три часа́ | genitive singular |
| 5:00–12:00 | пять часо́в | genitive plural |
The 24-hour clock is normal in writing and timetables: в 18:30.
Half past and minutes past
Russian names the hour it is heading into: полови́на тре́тьего = “half of the third hour” = 2:30. Minutes past use the same logic: де́сять мину́т тре́тьего = 2:10.
Полови́на пя́того.Half past four.
Без че́тверти семь.Quarter to seven.
Без десяти́ час.Ten to one.
The safe way out
Every Russian understands the digital version: два три́дцать, семь со́рок пять. Use it while the rest settles, and learn полови́на first because you will hear it constantly.
Во ско́лько начина́ется?What time does it start?
В по́лдень.At midday.
В по́лночь.At midnight.
Typical mistakes
Полови́на два — meaning 2:30
Полови́на тре́тьего
Russian counts into the next hour.
в два часо́в
в два часа́
2–4 take the genitive singular.
Check yourself
How do you say 4:30?
Half of the fifth hour = 4:30. (The third option is also understood, but it is the digital form.)